Rand Paul wins third straight CPAC straw poll

For a third straight year in a row U.S. Sen. Rand Paul won the Conservative Political Action Conference presidential preference poll.

The 3,000 libertarian-leaning young activists had Paul coming out on top of the crowded potential field of Republican candidates. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker came in second place in the poll, according to the Washington Times

Paul said he was “humbled by the enthusiastic support and encouragement” he received at CPAC.

“Our party is filled with constitutional conservatives who have chosen to stand with me for a third consecutive straw poll victory,” the Bowling Green Republican said in a statement. “Since President Ronald Reagan, the Conservative Political Action Conference has been the gold standard on where conservatives stand.

“The Constitutional Conservatives of our party have spoken in a loud and clear voice today. I plan on doing my part and I hope you will join me as I continue to make the GOP a bigger, better and bolder party.”

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, dropped to third place in the poll, neurosurgeon Ben Carson finished fourth and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush trailed in fifth place.

Paul spoke to the crowd at CPACOn Friday, delivering a nearly 20-minute speech and teasing that he would soon seek the “largest tax cut in American history.”

Nick Storm

Nick Storm is the Anchor and Managing Editor of Pure Politics available exclusively on Spectrum News. Pure Politics is the only nightly program dedicated to Kentucky politics. Nick covers all of the political heavyweights and his investigative work brings to light issues that might otherwise go unnoticed, like his coverage of the backlog of DNA rape kits waiting to be tested in Kentucky. Nick is also working on a feature length bio documentary Outlaw Poet: A documentary on Ron Whitehead. Pure Politics airs weeknight at 7 and 11:30 on Spectrum News. Follow Nick on Twitter @NStorm_Politics. Nick can be reached at 502-792-1107 or nicholas.storm@charter.com.